Yellowstone’s West Entrance opens on April 17, 2026, and for visitors staying in Driggs, Idaho, that means one of America’s greatest national parks is about to become a 90-minute day trip. Spring in Yellowstone is a completely different experience from the summer crowds most people picture. Roads open gradually, wildlife is everywhere, and you’ll share the boardwalks at Old Faithful with a fraction of the visitors who descend in July. If you’re planning a spring trip to Teton Valley, here’s everything you need to know to add Yellowstone to your itinerary.
When Do Yellowstone Roads Open in 2026?
Yellowstone doesn’t flip a switch and open all at once. The park reopens in stages as snowplows clear roads that have been buried under 10+ feet of snow all winter. Here’s the 2026 road opening schedule that matters most for visitors coming from Driggs:
- April 17: Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful via Norris and Madison, including the West Entrance. This is your gateway from Driggs.
- Late April to early May: Canyon Village, Lake, and the Grand Loop typically follow, though exact dates depend on plowing progress and weather.
- Late May: Dunraven Pass (Tower to Canyon) and Beartooth Highway usually open around Memorial Day weekend.
The key date is April 17. That’s when the road from the West Entrance through Madison to Old Faithful opens at 8:00 AM. From Driggs, you’ll drive west through Ashton to reach the West Entrance in about 1.5 hours. This route gives you access to some of Yellowstone’s most iconic features right from opening day.
Why Spring Is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
Summer Yellowstone means 4 million visitors, parking lot battles, and bumper-to-bumper traffic between geysers. Spring Yellowstone is a different world entirely. Here’s what makes late April and May special:
Wildlife Is Everywhere
Spring is baby season in Yellowstone. Bison calves (nicknamed “red dogs” for their rusty color) appear in late April and early May. Elk calves follow in June. Bears emerge from hibernation hungry and active, often visible along roadsides in the Lamar and Hayden valleys. Wolves are denning, and early-morning watchers can sometimes spot pack activity near Slough Creek and the Lamar Valley.
The combination of green-up in the valleys and lingering snow at higher elevations pushes animals into visible, lower-elevation areas. Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens. You’ll use them.
Fewer Crowds, Better Experience
Most Yellowstone facilities don’t open until mid-May or later. That means significantly fewer visitors during the last two weeks of April and the first week of May. Boardwalks at Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook, and Fountain Paint Pots are often nearly empty. You can linger, take photos without crowds, and actually absorb the landscape rather than shuffling through it.
Dramatic Landscapes
The contrast between snow-covered peaks and geothermal steam is at its most dramatic in spring. Thermal features like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and the Norris Geyser Basin are visually stunning against a winter-white backdrop. Rivers run high with snowmelt, waterfalls are roaring, and the Firehole River steams in the cold morning air. Photographers: this is your season.
Planning Your Day Trip from Driggs
A Yellowstone day trip from Driggs is absolutely doable and one of the best reasons to choose the Idaho side for your Teton Valley vacation. Here’s a sample itinerary for a spring day trip:
Morning
- 6:30 AM: Leave Driggs. Grab breakfast at Provisions or Big Hole Bagels before you go.
- 8:00 AM: Arrive at the West Entrance as it opens. Entry fee is $35 per vehicle (7-day pass) or free with an annual America the Beautiful pass ($80).
- 8:30-10:00 AM: Drive through Madison Junction to Old Faithful. Watch an eruption (roughly every 90 minutes), walk the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk, and see Morning Glory Pool.
Midday
- 10:30 AM: Drive north to Midway Geyser Basin for Grand Prismatic Spring. The overlook trail (1.6 miles round trip) gives you the famous aerial perspective.
- 11:30 AM: Continue to Fountain Paint Pots for an easy boardwalk loop through mud pots, fumaroles, and hot springs.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge (if open) or pack a lunch to eat at a picnic area along the Madison River.
Afternoon
- 1:30 PM: Drive to Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and most dynamic thermal area in the park. The Porcelain Basin loop is short and spectacular.
- 3:00 PM: Head back toward the West Entrance. Watch for bison along the Madison River, where herds frequently graze along the road.
- 4:00 PM: Exit the park. Back in Driggs by 5:30 PM for dinner.
What to Know Before You Go
Spring in Yellowstone has quirks that catch unprepared visitors off guard. Here’s how to plan smart:
- Check road status before you drive. Yellowstone roads can close without notice for weather, animal activity, or plowing delays. Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded road conditions, or text 82190 to 888-777 for mobile alerts.
- Services are limited. Most restaurants, gas stations, and visitor centers inside the park don’t open until mid-May or later. The West Entrance area and Old Faithful Snow Lodge may have limited options. Pack snacks, water, and a full tank of gas.
- Dress in layers. Morning temperatures at geyser basins can hover in the 20s-30s°F, with wind. By afternoon, it might be 50°F in the sun. Bring a warm jacket, hat, and gloves for early stops.
- Wildlife safety is serious. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from all other wildlife. Spring bears are hungry and active. Carry bear spray if you plan any hiking.
- Idaho roads to the West Entrance via Ashton (Highway 20/191) are well-maintained but can still have icy patches in early spring mornings. Drive cautiously.
Book a Guided Tour
If you’d rather let someone else handle the driving and logistics, guided tours from Jackson Hole run daily once the roads open. These tours pick up on the Wyoming side, about 45 minutes from Driggs:
- 🦬 Yellowstone Old Faithful & Wildlife Day Tour — Small group by Jeep, full day with wildlife spotting and geyser viewing
- 🏔️ Yellowstone Full-Day Lower Loop Tour — Covers Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone Lake, and more
- 📸 2-Day Yellowstone: Both Loops — The most comprehensive experience, covering the Upper and Lower Loops with an overnight stay
Combine Spring Skiing and Yellowstone
Here’s the real magic of an April trip to Teton Valley: you can ski Grand Targhee in the morning and visit Yellowstone the next day. The resort stays open through April 19, and Yellowstone’s West Entrance opens April 17. That gives you at least a few days where both are running simultaneously.
A long weekend in Driggs could look like this: ski Targhee on Friday and Saturday, visit Yellowstone on Sunday, and explore Grand Teton National Park (just 30 minutes away) on Monday before heading home. It’s the kind of trip that checks every box, and Driggs puts you right in the middle of all of it.
Your Base Camp in Driggs
The Barn is perfectly positioned for spring adventures in the Tetons. With 8 bedrooms sleeping up to 14 guests, it’s built for groups and families who want to explore everything the region has to offer. You’re a 5-minute walk from downtown Driggs, 12 miles from Grand Targhee, and 1.5 hours from Yellowstone’s West Entrance.
After a day of geysers and wildlife, come home to a real house with space to spread out, a kitchen to cook dinner, and the quiet of a small mountain town. That’s the Driggs difference.
Book your spring stay at The Barn and see Yellowstone the way it was meant to be seen: uncrowded, wild, and unforgettable.
